The Golden Globes have come and gone, and the winner for Best Animated Picture (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) has been crowned. With new, big-ticket animated movies like Frozen 2 on the horizon for 2019, it’s time to look back at the best–and worst–animated movies to hit cinemas in 2018.

The Top:

Number One – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Those who haven’t seen the newest entry in the Spider-Man franchise may wonder why this movie has been crowned the “Best Animated Picture” of 2018. Those who have seen it know exactly why it won that honor.

Into the Spider-Verse combines snappy writing with stylish, evocative animation and slick city environments. The urban environment of New York is a vibrant backdrop for Miles Morales’ rise as his universe’s Spider-Man, bright and peppy one moment and dark, flashing neon the next. Sony has already begun patenting the technology used to make this film, a brilliant blend of 2D and CGI animation that sets a new and very high bar for computer-generated animation as a whole. Into the Spider-Verse’s cast of characters is immediately charming, combining both humor and humanity, and its twists leave the viewers perched on the edges of their seats.

Many already consider this movie the best Spider-Man movie of all time–with apologies to the wonderful Tom Holland of Spider-Man: Homecoming fame, of course.

Reviewer Rating: 10/10

Number Two – Isle of Dogs

The number two animated film of 2018 is not for children, but animation as a whole should not be considered a “childish” art form in the first place. Isle of Dogs, directed by visionary Wes Anderson, is the story of a boy who is willing to sacrifice everything–his position in the eyes of his family and friends, his health, and his chance at an ordinary life–to save the dogs he loves, who have been banned from his city. The film uses stylish and, at times, eerie and violent images to evoke strong emotion in the viewer, along with a witty script characteristic of most of Anderson’s films.

Those who enjoy films like Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, or Wes Anderson’s previous animated movie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, will fall in love with this unusual yet alluring film about something everyone can relate to: absolutely loving dogs.

Reviewer Rating: 9/10

Number Three – The Incredibles 2

While The Incredibles 2 doesn’t quite hit the same mark as its famous predecessor, it’s still one of the most fun, action-packed, and heartwarming family films of 2018. While its animation, unlike the top two films, is pretty average for a big-studio CGI film, it is still an aesthetically pleasing movie with hilarious writing and excellently handled subplots.

Lovers of the original film will enjoy seeing Helen–or, rather, Elastigirl–fight in a dramatic train-chase scene, and throw down with a very menacing villain, the “Screen-slaver.” Jack-Jack, the baby of the family, also has a sizable role in this movie, as the super-powerful and very unpredictable newest superhero on the team.

The plot, while a bit formulaic, has an excellent twist in the third act, and its new characters are a well-designed treat to look at.

Reviewer Score: 7.5/10

The Bottom:

Number Three: Hotel Transylvania 3

This movie is the third installment in the Hotel Transylvania series, and definitely the worst. It isn’t offensively bad, like the next two movies picked for the list, but it is unnecessary at best and unfunny at worst during its hit-or-miss 97-minute run time. Hotel Transylvania 3’s fast pacing and bright colors are good for keeping small children interested, but adults and teenagers will probably find it obnoxious and repetitive.

Watch it on a rainy day–or don’t. This film is just okay.

Reviewer Score: 5.5/10

Number Two: The Grinch

At first glance, success would seem inevitable for a Grinch film with its titular character voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch, the smooth-voiced British actor who voiced villains like Smaug in The Hobbit and heroes like Doctor Strange. However, the creators of the film completely undercut any excellence this film could have achieved by lowering the script to cheap gags and making the Grinch, who was once an entertaining, evil character, into an extremely ordinary, if somewhat spiteful, guy.

The film isn’t awful. The animation is very smooth and festive, with Christmas cheer dripping out of every frame, and the dog Max is adorable as ever. Unfortunately, unnecessary characters, scenes, and songs bog the movie down, and every bit of filler tests the watcher’s patience. While cute and quirky at times, the film fails as a whole, and come on–Benedict Cumberbatch should have used an evil British accent, at least!

Reviewer Score: 5/10

Number One: Sherlock Gnomes

This movie instills in me an emotion stronger than disgust. No viewer of the far superior previous movie, Gnomeo and Juliet, could feel that this sequel should exist in any way, shape, or form. While most of the film is just intolerably dull and boring, some especially awful moments shake me so deeply that I question why any just and merciful higher power would allow this movie to exist, much less hit theaters.

The original film, Gnomeo and Juliet, is a retelling of Shakespeare’s most famous play with garden gnomes from two different yards playing the characters. It is a surprising, yet fairly funny film, with enough wit and references to carry it to its conclusion without too much tediousness. Sherlock Gnomes is the result of one unsuccessful pun involving garden gnomes trying to follow up a more successful movie based on a pun about garden gnomes, and it has all the momentum of a rusting, stationary lawn ornament.

The only moment in this film that does not feel like an FBI interrogation technique used to extract information from prisoners is the brief, 2D animated sequence in which Sherlock Gnomes himself visualizes the problem he’s trying to solve in his head. The animation in this scene is so crisp and creative that I wished that the whole film could be in that style, and not about lawn gnomes. I wished it could be just a story about Sherlock Holmes solving mysteries. Be warned: this single bright spot is NOT worth the rest of the film. Look up the “mind palace” clip on Youtube if you wish to see the only decent part of Sherlock Gnomes.

To those who still wish to see it, I leave you with just a few choice details of this movie:

Gnome in thong

Extended scene where a gnome kisses a frog

Twerking gnome dance line

Gnome in thong

Thirty fart jokes

A character saying “No SHIP, Sherlock!” as though it’s actually funny

Gnome in thong

Multiple gnomes dabbing, for no reason

A random, racist depiction of a Chinese salt shaker, who speaks in broken English.

Oh, hey, did I mention the gnome in the thong? Because for some reason, the filmmakers wanted to include:

In 1925, a Harvard-trained historian named Carter G. Woodson hoped to raise awareness of African Americans contributions to American society and thus founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH). Woodson and the ASNLH announced “Negro History Week”, an entire week devoted to celebrating and informing people of the history of African Americans. The following year in February of 1926, the first celebration would take effect. February was the decided month to do it because it encompassed both Abraham Lincoln’s and Frederick Douglass’ birthday.

In following years, this week would become a vital part of African American lives. Mayors of cities countrywide started to issue proclamations supporting this week of celebration. The efforts to inform Americans of the contributions of African Americans to our history and culture expanded during the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960’s. Under President Gerald R. Ford, the celebration was expanded in 1976 to the entire month. Exactly 50 years after the first celebration, America celebrated its first African American History Month.

In order to understand our nation’s history, it is vital that we remember the stories of those who came before us. We, as a country, celebrate African American History month as a remembrance of those who struggled and fought to fully claim the promises of liberty. We pay tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to obtain equality in American society.

Black History in the United States shows some of our richest history. Between slavery, emancipation, the Jim-Crow era, and then the Civil Rights Movement, there is no doubt the impact African American history has had on our society and culture. Through these centuries, African Americans have made extraordinary cultural contribution from music, to literature, and various other creative areas.

Socially, African Americans forever changed history after the Civil Rights Movement. The most notable leader of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr., encouraged communities to peacefully protest their way towards equality. He fought for not only African American rights, but also the economically disadvantaged and any victims of injustice. He was the driving force behind protests such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.

One of the protests of this movement hits very close to home with the desegregation of Central High School in 1957, the very school we proudly attend today. Nine students were barred from entering by anti-segregation protesters who were backed up by the Arkansas National Guard and Governor Orval Faubus. President Eisenhower intervened and sent in the 101st Airborne to help ensure their safety while attending school. Eight out of the nine students ended up graduating.

Our school has always celebrated black history month as it aligns so closely with our schools history. A Black History Month program is always performed in February to highlight important moments in African American history and to portray it back to the students.

This years program is being directed by seniors Cencerity Burton and James Slack. Both feel strongly that “this is a huge part of of the small representation of our culture that we get at Central High School,” said Burton.

Slack also added that “it is crucial that we have a Black History Month Program at Central, considering it’s history. It’s something that most of the students look up to. Not only is it entertaining but it’s also educational.”

The Black History Month Program has been an important aspect of celebrating the month. It has also become one of the students favorite programs they are able to see during the year. Many students look forward to see what parts of the diverse history will be showcased. In the past, there has been controversy on what is shown during the program, but many feel as it is important to see all sides of the history.

“If we’re trying to prevent history from repeating itself then we should try to dive into the authenticity of Black History and not censor it to please a certain crowd. Because this play isn’t about pleasing others, it’s about showcasing history and talent,” said Slack.

While this month is celebrated and the history showcased through the program, some students feel the school could be doing more to celebrate such an important month.

“Black History Month is important to me because it reminds me to stop and thank those in the past who went out of their way to make sure the life I have is better than the one they lived,” senior Madison Edmondson said, “Central’s history is important to me as a student but I have participated in more in-depth celebrations at my other schools. I feel that we should do more during the entire month.”.

Traditionally, Black History Month is reserved for honoring the achievements of great African-American leaders in America’s past. This year, however, it is important to celebrate figures who are currently inspiring change in each of their individual fields.

Pat McGrath

Pat McGrath is one of the most influential and sought after makeup artist in the world. McGrath has had a long career in the beauty industry. Beginning in the 1990’s, she started working for iconic brands conceptualizing and creating runway beauty looks. McGrath made herself beloved in the beauty industry, and her endeavors have taken her far. She has worked overseeing Covergirl and Max Factor, and creating Dolce & Gabbana: The Makeup. Her advertising campaigns are well known, and her social media presence has a unique look to showcase makeup. Her career has led her to create Pat McGrath Labs, a luxury beauty line with a net worth of $1 billion.

Jordan Peele

A few years ago, Jordan Peele was most famous for his comedy show with Keegan-Michael Key, Key and Peele. Today, Jordan Peele is well known for directing the film Get Out. For this film, Peele won an Academy Award for original screenplay. Get Out transformed the premise of what a horror film could be, and this film targets racial tension in America as it follows a young black man meeting his white girlfriend’s parents. Peele is going to keep audiences excited well into 2019 with the release of his new film Us.

Yara Shahidi

Yara Shahidi is one of the most influential young adults in popular culture. The Iranian and African-American actress became famous as Zoey Johnson in Blackish. Today, she is the lead of a Blackish spinoff show, Grownish. Yara is also a fashion icon at the moment. She is a Chanel ambassador, regular attendee at fashion events, and frequently graces magazine covers. In 2018, Yara launched a political initiative, Eighteen x ‘18, to encourage voter turnout in the midterm elections. She is an activist and freshman at Harvard University. Yara was even a speaker at Tory Burch’s inaugural Embrace Ambition Summit alongside other well known activists. Yara embodies the future of activism:intersectional, driven, and fun loving.

Ayanna Pressley

Ayanna Pressley was elected to represent Massachusetts 7th Congressional District in the 2018 midterm elections. She is the first African American from Massachusetts to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Previously, she was the first woman of color elected to the Boston City Council. Ayanna Pressley has been active in the #MeToo movement after she revealed her experiences with sexual abuse as a child and during college. Her election reflects the diversity in Massachusetts 7th district, which is the only majority non-white district in Massachusetts.

Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Ghana, grew up near Chicago, and eventually received his masters degree in architecture. He has been close with Kanye West for most of his career, and Abloh even served as creative director at Donda (a creative content company founded by West). Virgil Abloh founded Off-White, a Milan-based luxury and streetwear fashion label, which is beloved for its innovative products. Since 2018, he has been the artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s Menswear Collection. Students might be familiar with Abloh’s most recent work, which includes a giant technicolor sculptures in New York City and Japan to advertise the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 collection. www.vogue.com

Ilhan Omar

Ilhan Omar is another recently elected Congresswoman that reflects the diversity of America. She now serves Minnesota’s 5th district. Omar is a Somali-American whose family fled the civil war when she was 8 years old, and they lived for a time in a refugee camp. She has been a public servant in Minnesota for many years as a Minnesota House of Representatives and a senior aide to a Minneapolis City Council member. www.ilhanomar.com

Michelle Obama

Aside from being everyone’s favorite First Lady, Michelle Obama is a very accomplished woman. After graduating from Princeton and Harvard University, Obama has worked in corporate law and public service. Obama — the first African-American first lady and one of three first ladies to have post-graduate degrees — used her time as First Lady to develop many campaigns, including Let’s Move, Joining Forces, and Reach Higher. After her husband left office, Michelle Obama has continued to be an influential figure to young women everywhere. Her new book, Becoming, provides insight into how she came to be the woman she is. It details growing up in Chicago during a period of white flight, and how her focus on her education allowed her many wonderful opportunities. It’s comforting to know that one of the most influential women grew up with experiences similar to those of today’s teenagers.

19 African American Women Elected as Judges in Texas

This title might be long-winded, but these women deserve full recognition for flipping many judge seats in Harris County, Texas. After initially running separately, the 19 women decided to take a promotional photo together and run as a group to motivate their voting base. The picture began circulating social media with the phrase “Black Girl Magic.” On election day, all 19 were elected to be judges. It is an incredible feat to flip so many judges’ seats, seeing as this position is one of the last on the voting card, and many people aren’t aware of who is running for these seats ahead of time. The judges include Judge Shannon Baldwin, Judge Lucia Bates, Judge Ronnisha Bowman, Judge Sharon M. Burney, Judge Dedra Davis, Judge Linda Marie Dunson, Judge Toria J. Finch, Judge Ramona Franklin, Judge Lori Chambers Gray, Judge Angela Graves-Harrington, Judge Cassandra Y. Holleman, Judge Erica Hughes, Judge Maria T. Jackson, Judge Tonya Jones, Judge Latosha Lewis Payne, Judge Michelle Moore, Judge Sandra Peake, Judge Germaine Tanner, and Judge LaShawn A. Williams.

Mari Copeny

Mari Copeny is arguably the most influential eleven year old in America. Mari is an incredible young activist who does great work on behalf of her city, Flint, Michigan. At just eight years old, she met with President Obama regarding Flint’s water crisis. Mari’s persistent activism for Flint has earned her the nickname “Little Miss Flint.” She is also the youngest Women’s March Youth Ambassador, National Youth Ambassador for the Climate March, and Youth Ambassador for Equality for Her. To support Mari Copeny, students can go to her instagram page, @littlemissflint, and click the link in her bio.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o has starred in many profoundly impactful films, such as Black Panther, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and 12 Years a Slave. Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress who has dual citizenship in both Mexico and Kenya. Lupita Nyong’o is invested in social issues, as evident in the documentary she directed, In My Genes, that follows several Kenyans with albinism. She is a fashion icon to many, a Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee, and an academy award winner for best supporting actress for her work in 12 Years A Slave. Nyong’o is likely to keep impressing audiences with her role in Jordan Peele’s upcoming film Us.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis continuously gives spectacular performances on television, film, and Broadway, and she is the only African-American performer to have received a Tony, Oscar, and Emmy award. Recently, Davis has opened up about how she struggled with child hunger in order to help others growing up in the same situation. Davis’s past and bravery in pursuing acting have undoubtedly had an impact on other kids who have an undeniable love of the arts. She has helped raise over $4.5 million for the Hunger Is campaign, which strives to combat child hunger.

Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith, the former Karate Kid, has grown up to be an incredible artist, activist, and business leader. Smith’s first album, “Syre,” has earned lots of anticipation for his future musical endeavors. Some students might have even been lucky enough to hear Jaden live when J. Cole came to Little Rock during his tour. Jaden Smith is also a business leader, whose water company, Just Water, also reflects his interest in environmental protection. Smith is revolutionizing the bottled water industry by using bottles that cut down on carbon dioxide emissions, and investing in conservation efforts. Smith has also worked with the makers of the Impossible Burger, Umami Burger, and Impossible Foods to promote the environment-friendly burger and design his own environment-friendly foods. Jaden Smith seems to have the ability to make waves in whatever he is working on, and the world is waiting with bated breath to see what he does next.

Rihanna

Since her first album released in 2005, Rihanna has been an inspiration. Her magnetic personality and musical skill have made her an influential figure in America. Most students basically grew up listening to Rihanna’s music, whether they fully understood the lyrics or not. Today, Rihanna has become a champion of diversity through her business endeavors. Both Fenty Beauty and Fenty Savage have been incredibly successful thanks to consumers who appreciate Rihanna’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. The foundation options at Fenty Beauty have been praised for offering colors for women that often aren’t included in the beauty industry. Her lingerie line, Fenty Savage, offers nude pieces that match darker complexions, in addition to pieces for plus size women. Rihanna is forging the path for a beauty and lingerie industry that is made for all women. Soon, her lingerie line is likely to surpass Victoria’s Secret as most popular because of her commitment to providing options for women who are often excluded in this industry.

ONE: The Empress
“The Empress” card is all about strong expression. It represents a rich and fulfilling connection between people, whether they are friends or in love. If you’re single, your soulmate may be right around the corner! If you’re already dating someone, your relationship will become fuller and more energetic, helping both you and your significant other learn and grow together. (art by Emily Low)

Our futures–especially our future love lives–can be unsure, or even frightening. Whether it’s using the stars or a magic 8-ball, people have been trying to get glimpses of the future since the beginning of time. It’s up to debate how well any of these methods work, but one of the most popular and fun ways to get a glimpse into your future is by reading it on special “tarot” cards.

In a tarot deck, each card has a different meaning, one that informs or describes how you should (or did) behave in the past, present, and future. Most decks have a whopping total of 78 cards! The most important cards, however, are the 22 “Major” Arcana, which have the most to say about your fate. Most tarot readings ask the curious to pick three cards, which represent people, ideas, and events in their past, present, and future.

Since there isn’t enough space to fit all 78 cards, we’ve picked eight of the most love-related ones to give you some insight on your love life. Pick a number between one and eight, and then pick the card that matches the number to see what your future love life holds!

The federal government shutdown on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018, due to President Donald Trump’s belief that a 55 foot wall should be built on the United States-Mexico border to end illegal immigration into America. Although intended to convince Congress to fund this wall, the shutdown seems a punishment to American citizens for not being in agreement with Trump. The government shutdown ended on Friday, Jan 25, 2019 but could possibly be shut down again in about three weeks.

Trump shut down the government to obtain 5.6 billion dollars to pay for the southern-border wall. Democrats do not agree with the President’s belief in the necessity of the wall and refuse to pass the bill. This subsequently pushed Trump to threaten an emergency order and, soon after, shut down the federal government.

“President Trump must stop holding the American people hostage, must stop manufacturing a crisis, and must reopen the government,” Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said.

Trump believes he has extensive support for the southern-border wall, but, according to USA Today, less than 25 percent of Republicans in Congress want the funding for the wall.

“At the end of the day, our borders will still be insecure,” Republican Senator Bob Corker said. “The President could have received $25 billion [in funding] in dealing with the DREAMers. Most Republicans want to deal with the DREAMers. This is a made-up fight so the President can look like he is fighting. Even if he wins, our borders won’t be secure.”

Many students are against the wall.

“My mom works in the federal court, and because they’re considered essential, they have to go to work but not get paid,” sophomore Jane Landrum said. “Some people don’t have savings, and work paychecks, so they’re really affected by the shutdown.”

There are many reasons why the government shutdown should end. First of all, the majority of the country does not believe the wall should be built. Therefore, Trump is punishing Americans for having views and opinions that differ from his own. To many, this largely reflects a dictatorial leader. However, there are some who think that granting Trump the funding for the wall is the best solution to this problem; Trump refuses to reopen the federal government without this funding.

As of Jan 13, the government had been shutdown for 23 days. This means that many government employees have gone without a paycheck for 23 days. This is especially harmful to National Park Service employees, considering the government shutdown occurred in the middle of the Holiday Season — a popular time for people to visit National Parks and Historic Sites, including the Central High National Historic Site.

“I’m sure that the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments. They always do,” Trump said. “But many of those people that won’t be receiving a paycheck, many of those people agree 100 percent with what I’m doing.”

One furloughed employee expresses frustration on how this situation is impacting his family and co-workers and their families.

“The uncertainty of how long things will last causes quite a bit of stress and worry,” said one park ranger on behalf of the agency.

The government shutdown is causing great disparity in our nation and should come to an end as soon as possible.

Information for this article is from the Washington Post and Independent.

I’m not going to lie, I was not excited at all about seeing Glass. It is nothing like anything that I am normally interested in, but let me just say this: it was amazing. Directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan, Glass met and surpassed all of my expectations, with a fascinating and unusual take on superheroes and superhuman abilities.

The film follows three characters with superhuman abilities, David Dunn, played by Bruce Willis, Elijah Price, also known as Mister Glass, played by Samuel L. Jackson, and the many personalities of Kevin Wendell Crumb, James McAvoy’s character from Split, another Shyamalan film (Split is the second of the three movie series). The characters from both Split and Shyamalan’s earlier movie Unbreakable all meet up in the last of what is for now a trilogy.

In their own ways, all three end up at a psychiatric institution, where Dr. Ellie Staple, played by Sarah Paulson, works to convince them that they are not really superhuman, but just have various mental disorders that convince them that they are superhuman. Throughout the story, Elijah Price functions as somewhat of a mastermind, trying to figure out how to breakout and show the world their abilities.

James McAvoy’s incredible ability to transition between characters is fascinating and extremely impressive. There was never a moment where it was difficult to tell which personality he was using and each one had its own intriguing complexities. He was able to also show how all personalities worked with each other and what their roles were in his head, without major costume changes or changing physical traits of his character.

Because much of the film was set at the mental institute housing our three superhumans, many of the action shots were caught by security cameras, sometimes being shown as past security footage, giving the flashbacks an almost Ocean’s 11 feel. Other camera angles showed a very wide view, providing a look into every aspect of the situation, most often in action scenes.

The ending of Glass gives a glimpse into, hopefully, a new generation and universe of superheroes, born of M. Night Shyamalan. Will there be more movies to add into this world? Will we be introduced to more, unheard of, unusual superheroes? We will see.

Once every year, the best of music is celebrated at the Grammy Awards. There is much to look forward to at this event, with stunning fashion, great music, and a range of artists and celebrities.

While most of the awards categories aren’t as contested, the award for Record of the Year is one surrounded by much speculation and opinions. The nominees for Record of the Year are “I Like It” by Cardi B, “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile, “This is America” by Childish Gambino, “God’s Plan” by Drake, “Shallow” by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “Rockstar” by Post Malone, and “The Middle” by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey. All of these songs are impactful for different reasons, and all of them had a part in defining popular culture during 2018.

The awards aren’t held until February 10, but students are already forming opinions and placing bets on who will win the coveted Record of the Year.

Junior Jaylen Simmons is casting his bets on “All the Stars” because, “Black Panther was the greatest movie that came out in 2018, and the music in it was really good.”

“All the artists that worked on this song [“All the Stars”] collaborated really well,” junior Zoe Holland said.

But, other students have differing opinions on who should win Record of the Year.

Freshman Allison Gadberry says she thinks “This is America” should be the winner because “the song was really catchy, and had a great message. And the music video for it was incredible!”

Junior Keeling Baker is torn between “God’s Plan” and “This is America.”

“I think either song should win because of what Drake did with the ‘God’s Plan’ music video, and the message behind ‘This is America,’” Keeling said.

No matter their opinions, as February 10 comes closer and closer, students will be gearing up for the Grammy Awards with much anticipation.

]]>https://tigernewspaper.net/3489/voices/annual-grammy-awards-excites-students-prompts-differing-opinions/feed/0Back on Their Home Court: Tigers Show Out for Homecoming Gamehttps://tigernewspaper.net/3498/sports/back-on-their-home-court-tigers-show-out-for-homecoming-game/
https://tigernewspaper.net/3498/sports/back-on-their-home-court-tigers-show-out-for-homecoming-game/#respondTue, 12 Feb 2019 17:00:38 +0000https://tigernewspaper.net/?p=3498

Senior Jordan Greenwood plants her foot to pull a three in the face of her defender during the Lady Tigers win against Homecoming rivals Bryant Hornets. (photo by Mollygrace Harrell)

]]>https://tigernewspaper.net/3498/sports/back-on-their-home-court-tigers-show-out-for-homecoming-game/feed/0‘Snow’ More Snow Days: New Policy Causes Students to Work on Snow Dayshttps://tigernewspaper.net/3481/voices/snow-more-snow-days-new-policy-causes-students-to-work-on-snow-days/
https://tigernewspaper.net/3481/voices/snow-more-snow-days-new-policy-causes-students-to-work-on-snow-days/#respondWed, 30 Jan 2019 17:28:23 +0000https://tigernewspaper.net/?p=3481

As we begin our second semester, there is a mixture of relief and anxiety; we are halfway done with the year, but we still have four months remaining, including AP and semester exams. The only thing helping us through Jan and Feb is the hope that Mother Nature grants us a snow day.

But no longer do we have the potential of this reprieve. Under Act 862, the public school district is now allowed to develop a plan for Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) to be used on days when schools are closed due to inclement weather or other exceptional circumstances. As a result, students will no longer experience the joy of snow days.

Although this Act does ensure that we will not have to make up snow days at the end of the year, it completely removes the only thing people look forward to in Jan and Feb. Instead of frolicking in the snow, we will now be cooped up in the house, doing busy work that our teachers are forced to assign us.

Furthermore, the structure of this alternative method of instruction is faulty. Much of it relies on the use of a computer; teachers are expected to post our snow day assignments on google classroom, edmodo, or some other such site. However, not all students have access to the internet when home, and, because the roads are likely to be closed, they will not be able to use the library’s computers.

Even if we all had computers and access to the Internet, power outages are unpredictable and likely to accompany inclement weather. According to AMI, if a power outage occurs, teachers are supposed to provide their students with a paper assignment. Now, unless all teachers have psychic abilities, this seems rather impossible. How are they supposed to give us a paper assignment if they are unaware there will be a power outage or even a snow day?

Many teachers share the students’ sentiment about AMI. Most of them already have their curriculum for the upcoming quarter determined and much of it cannot be done at home. If they do provide work for us to do on the snow day, it would likely be busy work that does not pertain to our current lesson.

Unfortunately, because this is the district’s decision, we do not have the power to change this new policy. All we can do is beg our teachers to, please, not completely ruin our snow days with huge assignments.

The world of love, family, and relationships is often difficult to understand and explain. As humans who innately value connection, most people experience the joy as well as the pain of relationships with family and friends at some point during life. Though Central teachers and staff provide mainly academic instruction, they also offer advice and counseling to students through their own professional and personal experiences.

“Though high school relationships can be fun and seem like they last, friendships last a lot longer, so it’s important not to neglect your friends in high school for a boyfriend or girlfriend,” English teacher Jamie Howe said.

Central teachers have a unique perspective on the high school experience for students. They know that an unstable personal life for a student can mean wavering grades for students, as toxic friendships might cause them to lose focus at school.

“I always try to surround myself with good people. You want people who celebrate you, not put you down,” Karen Terry said. “When you’re in school it’s easy to find friends and meet new people, so if you learn how to do that now and maintain those relationships, it will be easier to make friends later on in life when you may not have as many connections.”

Many teachers also support our students in their endeavor to find long-lasting friendships and even develop relationships outside of high school that can last a lifetime. Often, teachers provide an example of marriage and steady relationships to students who might otherwise only find such an example in their parents, grandparents, or cousins.

“I married my high school sweetheart,” Terry said. “I think you should get married whenever you feel like you’re ready. Some people are ready before others. It all depends on your relationship and how you feel about the person. I got married really young, but if you’re not ready, then you need to see your relationship for what it is.”

Teachers also show students what it means to focus on self-love rather than just relying on others to make them happy. People are always changing, and in turn, so are their relationships. It is important to find confidence and peace in oneself as doing so often allows for meaningful and enduring relationships.

“You have to be comfortable with being yourself and being alone,” Terry said. “My philosophy is serenity, discovery, happiness. If you know yourself, what you like, and what makes you happy, that’s what’s really important.”